The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1887-02-10
Music As q Gladdener.

/
As renewal of the suggestion
that the music be permitted tt
go on, as given In ourlast week:
issue, we are requested by the
musical member of our. staff to
keep it up in tie publication Of
the following:-
Music may be and should be a
most potent means of gladdenine
the lives of our people. Nay, il
is so, so far as they have facill-,
ties fcri!s enjoyment.
But when we reflect how pow.
erful its effect is in bringing
forth from within us those feel=
ings whick are best and nobiest
in sanctifying he past, in filling
the mind with sense of what is
beautiful in daily life, and so
giving support IN our endurance
of the petty trials, the toll, the
worry of one sort Or another
which few escape, we shall per-
haps endeavor 10 do more to-
wards placing its enjoyments in
reach of the masses of our peo.
pie.
Music acts in its measure like
personal devotion of love. ia
cob worked seven years 10 win
Rachel, and he Eak them not, be-
cause of the greatness of his love.
And so, too, when we have that
keen sense of what is gracious in
life, of past joys, of all that we
should be thankful for in the
present, of hope for the future,
which music does so much to
stimulate, work or tronble of any
kind, whether it be plowing the
field or The soothing of a cross
grained and tl:ankless help mate.
becomes easier and more tolera-
bic.
There are alwaysiwo aspects to
human nature, the material and
literal side of suffering and irk-
some labor, bodily or mental, in
cluding the Eslings and arrows Of
outrageous fortune" 1.-The heart
ache and the thousand natural
ills that fleshis heir to-" and the
spiritual side, which is concerned
with all that is beautiful, noble,
and ideal, which looks above
what is immediate and beyond
the surface of facts, which is in
some sort connected with mans
highest end
Music and other kindred influ-
ences may lead the mind 20
dwell in the latter rather than in
the former. i 2 man is climbing
TO the top OF a mountain, thence
to behold the beauties of 4 mag
niiicent landscape, two courses
are opea 10 him as he climbs.
He may either look constant
ly at the roueiiness of his path,
grumble 81 The loose stones,
think Of the soreness Of his feet,
find fault with the kind shepherd
who has cut the path for the ben
eff Of travellers, because he has
not doae his work better; or he
may, on the other hand, look at
The lovel!ness of The view he
commands, note with pleasure
how it becomes more varied and
beautiful after each quarter OF
an hours hard work has taken
him up higaer, and wldened the
range oil his vision, gaze longing
y at The summit, thinking no
loil too great fo: the enjoyment
,f The glorious scenes which lie is !
ed TO look for at the end OF his |
ascent, by the beautiful glimpses
which are visible to him, and !
brighten his path as he climbs.
An1 if lie goes TO work thus
,heerily, thinking of what is TO
,c gained, rather than Of his diff
icnl'y in gaining it, that very
liiIicully will be lighte ned a hum
,red fold.
lie wlli,2et get rid oil Tn g loose
tones, he will not men1 the
Dad, he will not make his boots
tronger nor his feet tougher, but
e will have that in his mind and
eaii which will raise him above i
Il these things. They will not
feet or touch him.
And so, say, one who by mu-
ic and other spiritualizing intlu-
noes raises his mind and heart
eyond his daily toll and ankle
.es. TO the thought Of that which